- Messages
- 17,751
- Type of diabetes
- Reactive hypoglycemia
- Treatment type
- I do not have diabetes
I recently replied to a question on why we use a monitor to check our blood glucose levels.
So I thought that using my experience in finger pricking to see how I'm doing, and I'm doing really well. To give you a personal opinion on how to do this really important task with details.
The main reason is to give someone who has or could have RH the tools to help them get their heads around what to do and what to look out for.
In my first year since diagnosis and getting control and obviously getting myself into good health and fitness, I had to test depending on how many meals I had and if I hadn't tested the food or combination of foods to see if I could comfortably eat them without spiking.
I believe that anything that spikes us is a non starter first and foremost. We don't want anything that triggers a spike then a hypo.
It also depends on how quickly we spike and how long we can be able to not eat without going into hypo hell.
So on that basis, this is how I dealt with testing.
Most testing will revolve around meals and like me I can eat something between six to nine meals a day. Depending on when my first meal is and obviously my last.
Also and bear in mind of how much you do eat daily and especially if you want to lose weight, how a little is just enough and the emphasis is on small meals, little and often!
With my condition, we do have to eat every three hours or we are risking going into hypo. It is not recommended to do otherwise.
Also bear in mind that natural full fat will digest slower. But, that should not give you reason to stretch your meal times.
You eat to stay away from hypos!
Others like @Brunneria only have three meals a day.
Enough of the reasons.
It is quite simple.
First testing on waking. If you need to know if dawn phenomenon is a problem, if yours isn't then no need.
Before meal, pre prandial testing.
to see what is called your pre meal fasting blood glucose level. This is one test that is completely necessary.
Half an hour after first bite, post prandial testing.
this test is to see if you spike really quick and will help on your hour test.
The reason it is first bite, is because your body digestive reactions work that quickly and all your enzymes and food hormones work instantly including saliva.
Once you have found your spike time, then this test is unnecessary.
First hour test,
The spike should be peaking by now and starting to come down. Everybody is different, so is our spiking.
Once you know your spike time, only test if you haven't tested the food type you are eating.
Two hour test. This is a necessary test.
By now we should if there is nothing that has spiked us, be in normal range again, if not, there is a food or a combination of foods that have done this.
If this is the case, you have to find out which one by testing and experimenting.
Only if you want to find your hypo timing is it necessary to test further. You should only try this with someone who has knowledge of how to treat your hypo and it is supervised.
The next thing you have to do is keep a food diary.
You need to log all your test readings and timing throughout the day. Pre and post prandial tests. You need to log every bite of food and try and be as specific as possible, you shouldn't have to carb or calorie count, but there is nothing stopping you. If you do this properly you will see patterns and you can show your medical team your results.
If you are in ketosis, the testing is to ensure you stay there and you see no spikes at all.
To finish, we RH ers don't want to spike and testing ensures that something that we are eating doesn't do that. And some foods do contain hidden carbs and sugars. We have to be very wary and only natural food can we take for granted, even some meats and protein, have things done to them during production and processed food can be dangerous to stop you spiking.
If you don't spike you don't hypo! Testing is so important and the need to is just as important!
Hope this explains everything!
So I thought that using my experience in finger pricking to see how I'm doing, and I'm doing really well. To give you a personal opinion on how to do this really important task with details.
The main reason is to give someone who has or could have RH the tools to help them get their heads around what to do and what to look out for.
In my first year since diagnosis and getting control and obviously getting myself into good health and fitness, I had to test depending on how many meals I had and if I hadn't tested the food or combination of foods to see if I could comfortably eat them without spiking.
I believe that anything that spikes us is a non starter first and foremost. We don't want anything that triggers a spike then a hypo.
It also depends on how quickly we spike and how long we can be able to not eat without going into hypo hell.
So on that basis, this is how I dealt with testing.
Most testing will revolve around meals and like me I can eat something between six to nine meals a day. Depending on when my first meal is and obviously my last.
Also and bear in mind of how much you do eat daily and especially if you want to lose weight, how a little is just enough and the emphasis is on small meals, little and often!
With my condition, we do have to eat every three hours or we are risking going into hypo. It is not recommended to do otherwise.
Also bear in mind that natural full fat will digest slower. But, that should not give you reason to stretch your meal times.
You eat to stay away from hypos!
Others like @Brunneria only have three meals a day.
Enough of the reasons.
It is quite simple.
First testing on waking. If you need to know if dawn phenomenon is a problem, if yours isn't then no need.
Before meal, pre prandial testing.
to see what is called your pre meal fasting blood glucose level. This is one test that is completely necessary.
Half an hour after first bite, post prandial testing.
this test is to see if you spike really quick and will help on your hour test.
The reason it is first bite, is because your body digestive reactions work that quickly and all your enzymes and food hormones work instantly including saliva.
Once you have found your spike time, then this test is unnecessary.
First hour test,
The spike should be peaking by now and starting to come down. Everybody is different, so is our spiking.
Once you know your spike time, only test if you haven't tested the food type you are eating.
Two hour test. This is a necessary test.
By now we should if there is nothing that has spiked us, be in normal range again, if not, there is a food or a combination of foods that have done this.
If this is the case, you have to find out which one by testing and experimenting.
Only if you want to find your hypo timing is it necessary to test further. You should only try this with someone who has knowledge of how to treat your hypo and it is supervised.
The next thing you have to do is keep a food diary.
You need to log all your test readings and timing throughout the day. Pre and post prandial tests. You need to log every bite of food and try and be as specific as possible, you shouldn't have to carb or calorie count, but there is nothing stopping you. If you do this properly you will see patterns and you can show your medical team your results.
If you are in ketosis, the testing is to ensure you stay there and you see no spikes at all.
To finish, we RH ers don't want to spike and testing ensures that something that we are eating doesn't do that. And some foods do contain hidden carbs and sugars. We have to be very wary and only natural food can we take for granted, even some meats and protein, have things done to them during production and processed food can be dangerous to stop you spiking.
If you don't spike you don't hypo! Testing is so important and the need to is just as important!
Hope this explains everything!
